About Me
Christian, Homeschooling Mom of 2, Photography Lover, Southerner, Blogger, Encourager, and Prayer Warrior. I love sweet tea, my Nikon, cooking, & traveling.
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Showing posts with label guest bloggers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label guest bloggers. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Guest Blogger Melissa Nesdahl & A Giveaway!
12:00 AM | 
Posted by
Meghan
Tonight I sat with a heaping bowl of popcorn on my lap and a precious little girl snuggled in on each side of me. If your house is anything like mine, popcorn and movie nights are always a hit. And, because my girls are five and three, princess movies rank among their favorites. This evening’s pick was Cinderella.
Enamored by the beautiful dresses and idea of a dream prince, the girls watch with big eyes. As they do so, I praise God for them and the possibility of living this out. Do I want for them the Disney storybook wedding? No. But, like all Christian parents, I do want them to live out God’s Storybook wedding.
I pray that they would love the Lord and yoke themselves to another Believer. I pray that they would honor their bodies a temple of the Holy Spirit and respect healthy boundaries with anyone they date. I pray that they would value God’s design for sex to be in marriage alone so that the big white dresses mean something and their husband-to-be is truly a prince, as a son of the King.
I want the best for my kids because I love them. You want the best for your kids because you love them. And, my mission outside of being a Godly wife and mother is to share the Truth with others because God calls us to love them.
So how do I do this? Many years ago I was introduced to the DVD “Sex Has a Pricetag” by Internationally known abstinence speaker, Pam Stenzel. Speaking to over a half million students worldwide per year, Pam is the best there is. As I sat in my dorm room watching, others heard her powerful words combined with a fun sense of humor and made themselves comfortable on our futon couch. She was captivating, sharing incredible stories and statistics most of us had never heard and encouraging everyone to choose God’s best. For those who had sex before, this came in the form of “get tested for STDs, repent, set new healthy boundaries and live out recycled virginity because YOU CAN.” For those who were abstinent, this came in a not often heard, “GOOD FOR YOU!”
I fell into the latter category. Though I had been dating my boyfriend (now husband) from the age of 16, we both loved God and knew sex belonged in marriage so we honored that boundary. One of the girls sitting on my dorm room floor, however, was sexually active. Yet, we both finished the video inspired. I felt reinforced and affirmed in my decision. She understood her worth through God’s eyes and gained a new understanding of Christian love, encouraging her to make different choices for her future.
Because of this life-changing experience, I started volunteering in crisis pregnancy center ministry. I wanted to encourage every young person through their situation, provide them with often unheard truths, and help them to see their value in Christ to lead to transformed living. At the same time, I worked with youth choosing purity to encourage them to see that they were not alone and that reward would come in honoring Him.
Amazingly, as God would write out my life story, I connected and started working with Pam Stenzel. We both know that every young person needs encouragement and that every young person (regardless of their past) has the ability to make wise choices for their future. With this in mind, we recently wrote “Nobody Told Me: What You Need to Know About the Physical and Emotional Consequences of Sex Outside of Marriage.”
This book is perfect for every student regardless of the choices they have made. For those who have abstained, this book will offer a window into the heart of their peers, provide answers to difficult questions they still might have (and be afraid to ask), strengthen them to remain pure until marriage, and offer for them suggestions to help them live that out. For those who have made mistakes, this book will give them the opportunity to hear stories of young people struggling right along with them, but within that commonality our words will provide clarity where there was confusion, hope where there was pain, experienced forgiveness from a loving God, understanding that their past choices don’t have to define their future ones, and practical steps to redeeming their future.
To effectively deliver the message, Pam and I took years worth of teens’ shared stories and questions about God’s design for sex, Scriptural encouragement, media influence, peer pressure, abuse, pregnancy, STDs, emotional heartache, recycled virginity, and choosing abstinence until marriage and uniquely formatted into a fun Facebook-like format. Using this creative style, we meet teens (and all who love them) where they are at and provide them with accurate answers to today’s tough questions so that they aren’t the next to tearfully say to God, their parents, a physician, or a future spouse, “Nobody told me. I didn’t know.”
Some of you may not have teens (12 and up) yet. Good news, the book is FOR YOU too. Why? Because we live in a rapidly changing world. The consequences that today’s adults faced as a teens are no longer the same as the teenagers of today. The number of STDs has risen, media exposure delivers wildly different messages, and the people in the home and church haven’t always known how to effectively deliver an abstinence-based message that is both glorifying to God and yet honest and powerful enough to pack a punch with the students who hear it. As parents, mentors, volunteers, youth workers, crisis pregnancy counselors, etc. we MUST know not only the Scriptural backing, but the current statistics, all the failures of birth control often touted as “safe sex,” and successful “helps” to encourage abstinence until marriage. With this information, you can have more educated and effective conversations with your children (or any other teen you love) when the time comes. You need to be prepared to explain all the “whys” so that you are the person they trust and want to talk to.
So, as you parent the children God has entrusted to you, be sure to use this book. It will bring everyone up to speed and successfully communicates a message that empowers ALL students to choose self-respect and Godly choices from this day forward, allowing them to one day experience God’s Storybook wedding.
Thank you, Meghan and readers, for allowing me to be a part of your day!
In Him,
Melissa Nesdahl
Melissa Nesdahl is a happily married wife, mother, author, writer, and volunteer who believes that when people recognize their identity and value in Christ they will experience life to its fullest. Combining her passion to write with her love of sharing Truth, Melissa frequently updates her blog, writes product and curriculum with Pam Stenzel, and contributes to ModSquad. Melissa has served as a crisis pregnancy center counselor since 1999 and currently serves on the Board of Directors.
Melissa Nesdahl is a happily married wife, mother, author, writer, and volunteer who believes that when people recognize their identity and value in Christ they will experience life to its fullest. Combining her passion to write with her love of sharing Truth, Melissa frequently updates her blog, writes product and curriculum with Pam Stenzel, and contributes to ModSquad. Melissa has served as a crisis pregnancy center counselor since 1999 and currently serves on the Board of Directors.
And now on to the giveaway! Melissa is generously offering a copy of her book for YOU! So, make sure you enter for your chance to be reading this amazing book in your living room. How do you win?
Required Entry:
Share with us why you would like to read this book.
Extra Entries:
"Like" Nobody Told Me on Facebook
Become a follower of Melissa's blog
Follow my blog via GFC (at the bottom)
"Like" The Tuckers Take Tennessee on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Tweet about this giveaway with: "Nobody Told Me book #giveaway with @meghantucker & @melissanesdahl Ends 2/2"
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Friday, January 21, 2011
Guest Blogger: Lisa - Pixosphere
9:00 AM |
Posted by
Meghan
I am so excited to be a guest blogger for Meghan. Her enthusiasm for the family friendly blogosphere is so contagious! My name is Lisa (aka Sisterlisa) and I blog at The HomeSpun Life and I'm also the Social Media Manager and CEO of Pix-O-Sphere, a Family Friendly Photo Community. In all my years of making graphics, blogging, and interacting with other photographers online, I have come to learn what most people have questions about and what seems to be at the height of frustration, especially among new bloggers. An area of concern for both bloggers and photographers is copyright issues. A photographer's work is very important to them and they have various forms of copyright they expect their fans to abide by when using their photos. You can read some in depth information about these various licenses at Creative Commons. Knowledge is power and if you want your photography or blog articles protected, it would behoove you to get equipped with the necessary information. Part of the issue with this, is that many new bloggers and new photographers are unaware of these licenses.
Most photo sharing sites out there, have a Terms of Use contract that we all agree to upon sign up. It's very important to make sure you read and understand those terms. Many users have ignorantly violated those terms and suffered legal consequences as a result of their quick skim and fast agreement of those terms. Each site has slightly different terms and it's important to be aware of those. Another important thing to know is that most of these sites update their terms every so often and YOU are responsible for double checking every now and then to see if they have new rules. Not all of these sites will tell you when they have updated, but some will put the word 'new' or 'updated' next to their terms link at the bottom of their sites. They might also post an announcement on their blog. I suggest you subscribe to all your social network's site's blogs to make sure you stay up to date with their terms. If you use Gmail, you can create a Gmail filter to collect those posts into a folder instead of it cluttering up your inbox, just be sure to check them often.
Although photographers and bloggers do everything they can to protect their work, there's no need to surf the net in fear. Just get yourself educated. Each photographer and blogger has different terms. It is wise for them to have a page on their sites to let you know what their terms are so they don't have to answer individual emails every time someone has a question.
With blogging, comes the use of photos and we're always looking for safe sites we can frequent for photo sharing. It's becoming increasingly difficult to find a photo sharing site that is family friendly, easy to navigate for usable photos, and yet convenient to use. I have been a member of various photo sites on the net and have found it to be such a difficulty to find just the righ tphoto, only to discover the photographer just wanted to show it off and not actually let anyone use it. Some of these photo sites are now incorporating into their systems the ability to filter the searches so you get only free sharing photos in your search results. It will take some time for photographers to get used to these features and actually use them.
At Pix-O-Sphere we wanted to make this as easy as possible so you can save time. If anyone uses photos diligently on their blogs, they know how much time it takes to find just the right photo. A few features we added to make it easier are:
-Once you're connected as a friend on Pix-O-Sphere, you can use any of your friend's photos on your blog. This permission is written into out terms of use. So you don't need to wait to get permission.
-You can customize your search by selecting 'Friends Photos Only'. This saves even more time as you will have instant access to use those photos.
-Once you find a friend's photo you want to use, simply click 'Copy Photo to My Pix'. This makes a copy available to you to use. It's hosted in YOUR account so it doesn't zap your friend's bandwidth limit. If they delete their photo, you still have it and it won't disappear from your blog. AND their credit stays WITH the photo and is coded into the photo HTML that you use to insert it on your blog.
Example:
When you scroll your cursor over the photo you'll see a 'flyout' window with the photo information. When you click on it, it takes you to my album and shows you the photographer and you can get connected to them.
We have so much more to share with you about how we are creating this site to be streamlined to make your blogging faster and easier. I hope you'll come by and join, it's free!
--
Sisterlisa
Lisa (Sisterlisa) blogs at The HomeSpun Life
and is a contributor at The Homeschool Post.
She enjoys blogging, photography, and cooking.
Her homeschooling family is active in their
community and enjoys traveling with friends and family.
Most photo sharing sites out there, have a Terms of Use contract that we all agree to upon sign up. It's very important to make sure you read and understand those terms. Many users have ignorantly violated those terms and suffered legal consequences as a result of their quick skim and fast agreement of those terms. Each site has slightly different terms and it's important to be aware of those. Another important thing to know is that most of these sites update their terms every so often and YOU are responsible for double checking every now and then to see if they have new rules. Not all of these sites will tell you when they have updated, but some will put the word 'new' or 'updated' next to their terms link at the bottom of their sites. They might also post an announcement on their blog. I suggest you subscribe to all your social network's site's blogs to make sure you stay up to date with their terms. If you use Gmail, you can create a Gmail filter to collect those posts into a folder instead of it cluttering up your inbox, just be sure to check them often.
Although photographers and bloggers do everything they can to protect their work, there's no need to surf the net in fear. Just get yourself educated. Each photographer and blogger has different terms. It is wise for them to have a page on their sites to let you know what their terms are so they don't have to answer individual emails every time someone has a question.
With blogging, comes the use of photos and we're always looking for safe sites we can frequent for photo sharing. It's becoming increasingly difficult to find a photo sharing site that is family friendly, easy to navigate for usable photos, and yet convenient to use. I have been a member of various photo sites on the net and have found it to be such a difficulty to find just the righ tphoto, only to discover the photographer just wanted to show it off and not actually let anyone use it. Some of these photo sites are now incorporating into their systems the ability to filter the searches so you get only free sharing photos in your search results. It will take some time for photographers to get used to these features and actually use them.
At Pix-O-Sphere we wanted to make this as easy as possible so you can save time. If anyone uses photos diligently on their blogs, they know how much time it takes to find just the right photo. A few features we added to make it easier are:
-Once you're connected as a friend on Pix-O-Sphere, you can use any of your friend's photos on your blog. This permission is written into out terms of use. So you don't need to wait to get permission.
-You can customize your search by selecting 'Friends Photos Only'. This saves even more time as you will have instant access to use those photos.
-Once you find a friend's photo you want to use, simply click 'Copy Photo to My Pix'. This makes a copy available to you to use. It's hosted in YOUR account so it doesn't zap your friend's bandwidth limit. If they delete their photo, you still have it and it won't disappear from your blog. AND their credit stays WITH the photo and is coded into the photo HTML that you use to insert it on your blog.
Example:
When you scroll your cursor over the photo you'll see a 'flyout' window with the photo information. When you click on it, it takes you to my album and shows you the photographer and you can get connected to them.
We have so much more to share with you about how we are creating this site to be streamlined to make your blogging faster and easier. I hope you'll come by and join, it's free!
--
Sisterlisa
Lisa (Sisterlisa) blogs at The HomeSpun Life
and is a contributor at The Homeschool Post.
She enjoys blogging, photography, and cooking.
Her homeschooling family is active in their
community and enjoys traveling with friends and family.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Guest Blogger: Ashley
12:00 AM |
Posted by
Meghan
I'm so excited about today's guest blogger. You all know I have a huge passion for adoption and today's guest blogger does as well. I pray that this post reaches and touches you as it has me. You'll just love Ashley!
Sharing My Heart With You
During November, I wrote all about adoption on my blog, Putting God First Place. Adoption is something very close to my heart.
You see, God is choosing to expand my family through way of adoption. Next year, my family will go from a family of 2 (my husband and I) to possible a family of 5. Yes, we are adopting up to 3 children. Do you think I'm crazy? Well, I might be. But, this is what my husband and I have been praying about for over three years, for God to fill our home. It is so exciting to see our prayers so close to coming true!
Now that I am looking over my life, I see so many things that have prepared me for this time, for this situation. I know that this is what God has been planning for my life. God is calling us to personally open our homes and make orphans, orphans no more!
God is calling you to help with the orphan crisis! Last year I read an amazing book called Adopted for Life. In this book, Dr. Moore stresses the fact that EVERY Christian is called to play a part in adoption,
Could God be calling you to open your home to orphans? There are at least 143 million orphans around the world. As Christ-followers, we cannot just stand by, aware of this crisis, and do nothing! There are children waiting, here in the U.S. and all around the world, waiting to come home, waiting to be adopted.
Maybe God is not calling you to open your home to orphans. Maybe He is calling you to support orphans through a variety of ways. There are so many ways! There are many organizations (like Compassion and World Vision) that exist to provide for the needs of children around the world. Some of these children are orphaned, and some are living in poverty, either way they need help.
Maybe there are people in your life that have adopted, or are currently adopting. There are several things you can do to support them! Believe me, they need supported! They need to know that there are people with them on the journey! Lately, I have been extremely encouraged by the people God has brought into my life to encourage me on our adoption journey. Here are a few ideas of how you can support those families in your life: pray for them, take them dinner, offer to clean their house, help them pay for their adoption.
The beautiful thing is that as Christ-followers, we have all been adopted. We have all been brought into the family of God. It is from the outpouring of our salvation and the truth of God’s love that we, as Christ-followers, should desire to be a part of caring for orphans!
I am honored to be expand my family through way of adoption. I know that it won't be easy, and some people think I've gone crazy. But, I know that God is guiding our steps and this is what He has called my family to do.
I urge you all, please, prayerfully consider how God would want to use you for His glory through adoption.
Ashley is 20-something years old and lives in Louisville, KY with her husband, Michael, and their three cats. God willing, they are hoping to expand their family, through way of adoption, in the next year. You can find Ashley blogging regularly at her personal blog, Putting God First Place. You can also find Ashley At the Well, and on twitter.
Sharing My Heart With You
During November, I wrote all about adoption on my blog, Putting God First Place. Adoption is something very close to my heart.
You see, God is choosing to expand my family through way of adoption. Next year, my family will go from a family of 2 (my husband and I) to possible a family of 5. Yes, we are adopting up to 3 children. Do you think I'm crazy? Well, I might be. But, this is what my husband and I have been praying about for over three years, for God to fill our home. It is so exciting to see our prayers so close to coming true!
Now that I am looking over my life, I see so many things that have prepared me for this time, for this situation. I know that this is what God has been planning for my life. God is calling us to personally open our homes and make orphans, orphans no more!
God is calling you to help with the orphan crisis! Last year I read an amazing book called Adopted for Life. In this book, Dr. Moore stresses the fact that EVERY Christian is called to play a part in adoption,
What is God calling your family to do?“Adoption is not just about couples who want children – or who want more children. Adoption is about an entire culture within our churches, a culture that sees adoption as part of our Great Commission mandate and as a sign of the gospel itself.” -pg. 19
Could God be calling you to open your home to orphans? There are at least 143 million orphans around the world. As Christ-followers, we cannot just stand by, aware of this crisis, and do nothing! There are children waiting, here in the U.S. and all around the world, waiting to come home, waiting to be adopted.
Maybe God is not calling you to open your home to orphans. Maybe He is calling you to support orphans through a variety of ways. There are so many ways! There are many organizations (like Compassion and World Vision) that exist to provide for the needs of children around the world. Some of these children are orphaned, and some are living in poverty, either way they need help.
Maybe there are people in your life that have adopted, or are currently adopting. There are several things you can do to support them! Believe me, they need supported! They need to know that there are people with them on the journey! Lately, I have been extremely encouraged by the people God has brought into my life to encourage me on our adoption journey. Here are a few ideas of how you can support those families in your life: pray for them, take them dinner, offer to clean their house, help them pay for their adoption.
The beautiful thing is that as Christ-followers, we have all been adopted. We have all been brought into the family of God. It is from the outpouring of our salvation and the truth of God’s love that we, as Christ-followers, should desire to be a part of caring for orphans!
I am honored to be expand my family through way of adoption. I know that it won't be easy, and some people think I've gone crazy. But, I know that God is guiding our steps and this is what He has called my family to do.
I urge you all, please, prayerfully consider how God would want to use you for His glory through adoption.
Ashley is 20-something years old and lives in Louisville, KY with her husband, Michael, and their three cats. God willing, they are hoping to expand their family, through way of adoption, in the next year. You can find Ashley blogging regularly at her personal blog, Putting God First Place. You can also find Ashley At the Well, and on twitter.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Guest Blogger: Alpha Omega
12:00 AM |
Posted by
Meghan
The Heart Behind the Daily Focus®
As homeschooling parents, we all need encouragement, and it’s that desire that inspired me to write the Daily Focus. After receiving very little support from family and friends during my years of homeschooling, I wanted other families to be uplifted in their homeschool journey with affirmation, inspiring words, and the promises of God’s Word.
Compelled by God to share both my homeschooling successes and failures, I spent almost a year writing this 365-page labor of love. My prayer is that the Daily Focus devotional book will give fellow homeschool parents a renewed vision and motivation as they follow God’s leading in educating their children at home.
(To learn more about the Daily Focus and my homeschooling story, click on the video link below.)
Janet Tatman, Daily Focus Author
Twitter - @homeschoolers
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Guest Blogger: Christy Hovland
12:00 AM |
Posted by
Meghan
SIX TIPS FOR HAPPINESS IN MOTHERHOOD
Motherhood is hard, there’s no doubt about it. But, it is also crazy fun when we, as moms, constantly strive toward happiness.
For me, becoming a mother was a journey I always knew I wanted to take. As a young girl, I dreamed of the five children I would have. The successful career I would enjoy and the handsome husband who would call me beautiful.
Now, I am nearly 30 years old. (Eeek! Don’t tell anyone that number, I think I’ll hang out at 29 for a few more years.) I have two of the most beautiful children I could ever imagine, and I very well might never be pregnant again. Ella, my little girl is two and Britton my oldest, a boy, is four.
I look at mothers with more than two children with a kind of awe. I just wonder, how on earth do they do it? I can hardly keep up with the two of mine.
The one thing that I have found as a mother is happiness. It’s been a journey for me to find happiness and balance in my career, marriage and motherhood. I’ve developed tools that I use throughout my days to keep myself in my “happy bubble”.
HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE
This was a revelation to me when I realized that I can choose in any moment to be happy, angry, or sad. I’m teaching myself to catch those angry and sad moments so I can put myself back in check and be happy once more. Whatever you are doing throughout your day, remind yourself consistently that happiness is not some gift bestowed on you in certain moments of your life. Instead, see that it is a choice you get to make in every moment of your life.
SMILE RANDOMLY
I have discovered that I love to smile at strangers. Not in a freakishly weird, stalker kind of way. Nope, I like to smile so they know I see them and more often than not, that smile bounces right back at me. I sometimes go through my day attempting to “plant” smiles in the community. Try it; just this one exercise is a huge happiness booster.
When I mentioned to my friend that I was guest writing for this blog, he said to me. “Christy, can I insert a tip?”
Well, why not? I thought! So, here is that tip:
LOOK AT YOUR CHILDREN AND SMILE
Remind your children throughout their day that you love them. This is as simple as looking them in the eye and smiling. Adding a praise or a hug isn’t a bad idea, either.
DON’T USE GOOGLE AS A CO-PILOT PARENT
As far as I know, Google never did have children. And, in my experience, Googling a problem has only made it worse.
Instead, to find contentment and happiness as a mother, have a group of women (and men) that understand your style of parenting. Find people you can talk to about mothering, who answer your questions freely without having any price to pay for being who you are.
I have found these wonderful groups at MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), women’s networking groups, and even in online communities of like-minded moms.
WHAT CAN I DO?
When you are at your wits end, instead of asking “What can I do?” Ask yourself, “What CAN I do?” You’ll be amazed at the possibilities this one change will make in your day. When the kids are going bonkers and you find your child tearing through your freshly cleaned living room with the Superman cape flying, muddy shoes tromping, and the popsicle in his hand melting – stop and ask yourself “What CAN I do?” The answers will amaze you. I CAN go to the park, I CAN put on my cape and join him, I CAN put on my rollerblades and pull him in his wagon.
I will tell you that one of my favorite activities with my children is to take them in a wagon down the hill at my mother’s house. I sit right in the wagon with them and our hair flies behind us as we head down the hill. That’s one thing I CAN do with them. And it’s something I love. (Not to worry, it really is a safe hill.)
RECORD THE MOMENTS IN YOUR DAY
I recently began carrying a small leather bound book in my purse. Whenever I hear something I want to remember, or I see something I don’t want to forget – I jot down notes in my journal. It fits right inside my coat pocket or my purse. I carry it with me everywhere. And, if we are ever blessed to meet in person, you’ll probably catch me taking notes about the things that make an impression. It makes me happy that my “mommy brain” won’t forget these precious memories because they are safely tucked into my “Book of Me”.
These are six of my tools that I use each and every day to cultivate happiness on my own journey of motherhood. They have made me a happy mom, a happy wife, a happy mompreneur and a fabulous me.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Guest Blogger: Lana From ILoveMy5Kids
12:00 AM |
Posted by
Meghan
Lana comes from Texas where there is only two seasons - hot and warm. She and her hubs didn’t kiss until their wedding day and now have 5 beautiful children, whom they educate at home. They are currently remodeling their home - doing everything themselves. Her blog (ilovemy5kids) chronicles everything from traveling to see the World’s Largest Everything to EASY Recipes! She thrives on chocolate and listening to her Master say one day “Well done my Good and Faithful Servant!”
This is what we discussed...
He is a wiz on setting up finances i.e. budgets, creating a plan and other nerdy stuff.
I’m the one who likes to spend but with thrift in mind.
We work well together, most of the time
(don't ask about putting Christmas lights on the tree).
I decided to come up with 77 ways to save or at least spend less.
Most of these ideas, came from years of browsing the net or just word of mouth.
77 ways - WOW! Why 77?
Well, 7 is my fave number.
God used this number over and over in scripture,
7 days of creation, 7 days in a week, and so on...
so then 77 ways to $pend $$$ was perfect, so to speak.
This is in no particular order.
Neither I nor this site are responsible for others changing their policy,
price changing or other’s sites' content. These are just suggestions - no one is going to grade you if you don’t do them! Now enjoy!
1. Use cash not credit. (It actually hurts physically to spend cash.) Not to mention you won't be spending finance charges, late charges, and other fees.
2. Don’t be overwhelmed with money. It’s only paper. People are going to live forever - one way or another. Teach your children that they are more important than paper. However, also teach them to save, to spend and to give!
3. Coupon but beware; it can be time consuming. Food manufacturer coupons are hard to use in our area because we are limited on one particular store, which doesn't double, triple, or stack coupons.
However, some other stores do stack, i.e. Walgreen’s, CVS, and Target and sometimes even Kmart.
(Basically, that means when a product is on sale, you can use a manufacturer coupon and store coupon together.)
Check with your own store to see their policy. Then take a written policy with you!
However, some other stores do stack, i.e. Walgreen’s, CVS, and Target and sometimes even Kmart.
(Basically, that means when a product is on sale, you can use a manufacturer coupon and store coupon together.)
Check with your own store to see their policy. Then take a written policy with you!
4. This sometimes is not worth the trouble for the time issue. My time means a lot and I don't like spending all day sorting coupons. Let the coupons work for you and not you for the coupons!
However, when I see a really good deal i.e. diapers, I'm there!
However, when I see a really good deal i.e. diapers, I'm there!
5. If you do coupon - there are gobs of coupon sites. They will do the work for you. They will tell you when the best time to use each coupon and at what store. Google it! I got 124,000,000 sites. Also, I have some of my fave sites linked in my side bar.
6. Speaking of Google - I hardly use this service anymore - I use SWAGBUCKS. Using their search engine - I earn Swagbucks that can be exchanged for real Amazon Gift Cards.
7. Price shop when buying in bulk. Buying in bulk does not necessarily mean you are saving money. Check it out! Use that calculator on your cell phone!
9. A lot of stores now price match or offer a 10% back if you find a price lower than what is offered, even within 30 days of purchasing. Sears, Lowes, Home Depot, to name a few.
10. Don’t gamble - put your money in a jar. It usually earns the same interest. (0%)
11. Don’t give into whining from your kids or hubby at the check-out line. We don’t give allowances just because they are our kids. We give commissions. Each child has 5 chores that they are responsible for each day. We keep an easy to read chart on the refrigerator so they can mark off each chore. At the end of the week, Daddy pays them for each job that they did. Does it work? The kids now have more money than Mommy does.
12. Make your own coffee and other fast food items. Make going to Star-bucks or McDonald’s a luxury.
Let’s say a white chocolate mocha grande costs $4.28.
If I bought just one a week, that comes to $222.56 a year.
Let’s say a cheeseburger happy meal is $2.98.
For one kid, once a week the total is $154.96, a year.
For two kids, once a week, the total is $309.92, a year.
For five kids, once a week, the total is $774.80, a year. Ouch!!!
Let’s say a white chocolate mocha grande costs $4.28.
If I bought just one a week, that comes to $222.56 a year.
Let’s say a cheeseburger happy meal is $2.98.
For one kid, once a week the total is $154.96, a year.
For two kids, once a week, the total is $309.92, a year.
For five kids, once a week, the total is $774.80, a year. Ouch!!!
13. Make a budget for gifts and stick to it! I like to make it a game. I shop sales all year round and make it $5.00 a gift or less. (I do spend more on my hubby and my own children.) This is secret so don’t tell my friends or family. Besides, spending more time searching for the gift actually makes it more thoughtful.
14. Target has HUGE clearances all year long. I have found many items $20.00 marked down to $3.00 or so. Even a $5.00 gift card to McD’s is thoughtful - see #9.
16. Create a gift closet or a gift box. Keep a list in your purse who you need to buy for and what you have bought. It sure makes December and birthdays so much less stressful.
17. Prepare a weekly menu. This has been the biggest saver for us. We have even started Once A Month Cooking. What a time-saver and money-saver!
18. If you like to eat out and want to save the cash check out TOP SECRET RECIPES or COPYCAT. You can make your own Red Lobster Bay Biscuits or Benihana Rice!
19. Start planning your Black Friday sales in August/September. It pays to be prepared.
20. WAIT WAIT WAIT for at least 24 hours on huge purchases I.e. furniture…
21. Take a person with you who is budget conscience when shopping.
22. Use group discounts. Just invite my family when you go to the zoo, aquarium, or even a semi-pro basketball game to get a large group discount.
23. Lay off the gas when driving. Tickets are expensive!
24. Keep your car in tune. Find someone who is a professional but doesn’t charge like a shop. Book time is a killer!
25. Buy used if possible and if it is worth it. My time is very valuable - it’s sometimes worth it to buy brand new.
26. Ask for the discount! If it has a grease stain on it - you have to spend time (time is money) to get it out. (Target is good about this especially on home goods.)
27. When on vacation visit the Convention and visitor bureau or Chamber of Commerce. They have a lot of coupons there!
28. September is the month at a lot of vacation places go ½ off. It’s the month after summer (busy season) and before fall (busy season). Cruises from Sandals resorts sometimes go ½ off because of hurricane season - so make sure you get the traveler’s insurance.
29. Drink water instead of cola when you go out eat. (We’ve developed a soft drink day - Sunday’s only. Works great for our diet as well.)
30. Coupon codes for free shipping - just Google it or Swagbuck IT - see number 6! (Remember when Google was something you called your brother in law, oh wait that is Goober!)
31. Don’t stop at the grocery store just to buy bread. Use crackers or tortillas instead. These bi-weekly stops are expensive and a time waster.
32. 2 words - Spray Paint! Cheaper than buying new!
33. Sonic has a happy hour 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. ½ off all drinks including slushes.
34. When you fly - sometimes it is cheaper to drive a little to a neighboring airport than to the larger airport. (Cincinnati is usually more expensive than Dayton, Ohio which is 1 hour and 30 minutes away. The same is usually true for Houston Hobby and Houston Intercontinental.)
35. Go meatless a couple of nights a week. An old Southern fave, beans and cornbread. Yum! Yum!
36. Combine breakfast and lunch on the weekends ~ BRUNCH! Having healthy snacks deter little ones
37. New cars depreciate 70 percent in the 1st 4 years on average. Look at Auto Trader for a used car! No one will ever know..plus who cares if you are saving up to $10,000.
38. Leasing a car is usually not worth the money!!! $300. A month = no car at the end. Just add up the figure and weigh it against a reliable used car. It is worth saving the money and buying used.
39. Shop auto insurance among other insurance policies every six months to a year.
40. Texas is deregulated - shop electricity rates! This saved us a bundle! Check your state. You might can go with any electricity company - look at CO-OPs as well.
41. Take advantage of kids eat free nights or Family nights. Luby’s, Carino’s, IHOP, and Denney’s.
43. Make sure your home insulated well. Investing a little saves a lot!
44. Replace A/C filters timely - makes the air conditioner run less. Clean A/C coils at least once a year, again it makes it run less! Vacuum refrigerator coils once a year.
46. Toys-R-Us has a neat birthday program. Geoffrey always calls my kids on their birthday and sings them a song. Plus, they get a birthday card and coupon.
47. Burger King, Sonic, and Whataburger also have kid’s birthday clubs.
48. Vocalpoint is a neat site that you give your opinion and they send great coupons and free products.
49. If you do sign up for offers online, it is wise to open a separate email account or at least a disposable account. Many places like to send spam and this is just a way to avoid it in your personal email.
50. Stamps are $.42 plus the envelope - this could save a lot in a year’s time if you use Billpay or pay bills online.
51. This may be over the top but MAKE YOUR OWN laundry detergent. I've been doing this for a year and it has saved me tons!
52. This may be way over the top but make your own hand soap.
53. Make your own curtains or mistreatments. Nester has so many simple decorating ideas on here! I love making my home a refuge and pretty, she gives the info on how to do it!
54. Make sure you have enough house insurance. Home values increase and sometimes we forget about the insurance. (Happened to my parent’s rent house that burned down.)
55. Sometimes multi-lining (combining auto, house or renter’s insurance) insurance is cheaper and sometimes not.
56. Get your credit report! You can get a free one from each of the 3 BIG ones! Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
58. Look for bundle packages. (Ask for a deal - if I buy 2 will you give me ½ off?) This works great when dealing with Cable, Phone and Internet services.
59. Save that $1000. for that emergency fund. Then you will have money when the car needs that part that only exists when your car breaks down.
60. If you never fly, why do you have that frequent flier card that you are paying high interest on? Signing up for Hotel/Motel privileges before you leave home! Staying twice might earn you time away with your honey or a sweet Girl’s Night Away!
61. In some instances generics are wonderful, i.e. medicines. My pharmacy also delivers to my door for free! I don't have to stand in line with other sick people.
62. Check out Bank Rate, it looks for financing and checks bank rates. Don’t forget your local credit union!
64. Patience - the sales will come! Those who wait will get a deal! I have a gift closet for those items I find and need a birthday gift for those minute invitations.
65. Educate yourself - read a how-to book. We have learned how to tile, grout, roof, and remodel our kitchen just by asking tons of questions.
66. Use coffee filters for snack time instead of paper plates. It is amazing how many things you can re-use around your house. Vinegar is another crazy item to use from the dishwasher as rinse aid, fabric softener, to cleaning floors.
67. Use your ceiling fans. They produce wind that blows on you to make you feel cooler so you don’t have to turn down the a/c. Using your thermostat is also nice to keep it comfortable but not a constantly up and down in temperature.
68. Get plant clippings from friends. You could do your whole yard from clippings. Contact a Master Gardener - they usually always share.
69. Buy smaller plants and wait for them to grow instead of mature ones. Our Lowes is great about if you buy more plants than you get a better discount. Be careful though, reduce price mean you might void the year warranty, if the plant dies.
71. Michaels has an unbelievable selection of cards and stationary usually marked down to $.50. Ours even has an entire room of close-outs.
72. Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and Kirklands sends out a coupon every week just for signing up your email.
73. Save your receipts from Target - if the product goes a lower price then they will give you your money back. Other stores do this as well. Just gotta ask!
74. The company my hubs works for will actually match our tithe or donations during the year up to a certain amount. Other companies do this as well...a lot of people in my hubs company still don’t know about this tidbit of info - ask the human resource department. It is like doubling our tithe or offerings!
75. Paperback Swap is a great place to look for a book. You post 10 books that you really don’t want anymore and get credits. When someone wants it you to ship it but usually it is around $3.00 ~which is still cheaper than most books, I want.
76. Educate yourself. I can’t believe how much wasted money - we have wasted through the years just by ignorance. I.e. my bank shouldn’t have charged us savings account fees or ATM fees because we were an Advantage customer. Know you account benfefits.
77. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you. Luke 6:38
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